The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-07-16
BesSie's Pink ParaSoI.
by GERALDINE FLEMING.

"Well, Bessie, II you really want the pink
parasol, you must try and do without the
new mantle" Mrs. Eliot remarked thought
fully.
"Oh, have set my heart on the para
sol!' Bessie answered promptly.
Bessie was pretty girl of seventeen,
straight and supple of form as young will
low; she had shy, sensitive face, with n
lovely wi'd-rosc tint changing and wavering
in each dimpled cheek; her Dut-brown hair
clustered in little short, silky rings oyer a
proud little head, and her long-lashed eyes
we're two great witcbing orbs of laughing.
luminous brown.
''You see," Mrs. Eliot continued, as she
jotted down another item to the list Of ar
ticles Immediately to be purchased, "you
see, after Jacky's bicycle. haven't much
to spend, and, besides, want to get Cora
nice new dress"
II don't see why you need get things for
Cora Mortimer-she isn't anything to us"
said Jacky, handsome lad, with the
laughing, shining eyes of his older sister
Bessie.
Cora dead mamma was my dear friend
years ago; the poor child has been left
with very little fortune; she is grateful for
every kindness shown her. and her ward
robe is anything but abundan'," said Mrs.
Eliot, who was one of the most sympathetic
and benevolent of women.
ut was kind of you. mamma, inviting
her 10 spend the summer with u.s." said
Bessie.
"And she shows her gratitude by taking
Walter Vivian away from yon, sis," Jacky
commented, with scornfui Indignation in
his boyish tones.
"What nonsense, Jacky. Your sister
isn't engaged to Walter. And Cora-the
poor child-lsn't to blame IL he happens to
prefer her." the pleasant-featured, mild
voiced mother said rcbukingly.
1T isn't question of preference" Mas
ter Jacky returned with an air of superior
sagacity. at is question of Walter be-
licving that girl's fairy tales about sis and
somebody else"
''There never was anybody clse," cried
pretty Bessie, looking startled.
Jacky assumed an air, very plying, and
| of vast Importance.
That's all very well to say, you know
but who is to believe it when you leave
your love-letters lying around loose fol
that girl to pick up and read if she likesr
he responded.
Cora wouldn't do anything so petty, SC
dishonorable," Bessie declared
But the wild rose tint had blanched from
the lovely cheeks, and the great luminou.
brown eyes were clouded by sudden pain.
Long ago her tender child-heart hat
passed into the keeping of Walter Vivian
handsome, fascinating Walter-yellow-
haired and cagle-eyed--grand and com
manding OF foim and presence, like somC
strong and gallant North King in days o
old.
And he had always seemed SO like low
er until Cora Mortimer had come among
them.
Latterly he had seemed changed some
how. She no longer heard the tender,
merry laugh she loved-she no longer saw
the tender smile in his fine eyes on bonnl
blue.
He had become somehow saddened anC
sobered, and Bessie, neticing the change
had wondered and grieyed.
But she was leath to believe that Jack.
had solved the enigma.
She refused 10 think i'll of Cora Mortime
of the girl, whom her mother, in simple
hospitable kindliness, had made a summe
inmate of their home.
And those love-lettsrs had seemed sucl
silly, harmless things.
They had been the youthful effusions o
a cousin who had professed for her some
thing more than cousinly affection.
But she had never responded 10 one o
them; she had always snubbed the foollsl
fellow numerically. And no doubt h
would now laugh heartily over that juven
lie folly; anyhow he had been for som
time married to a charming little lad
whom he adored.
81 will think no III of Cora. If Waite
cares for her, II he has never cared for me
! must try TO be glad as long as he is haI
py. And must be kinder to Cora for hl
sake" she meditated, as she sat in her le'
rustic rocker among the rose-vines Of th
veranda.
They were living for the summer in a
old-fashioned country house by the SCI
And Walter Vivian resided not far away
one OF the grand villas which dotted II
shore road between her own home and
fashionable resort a mile or so down Il
beach.
n The morning was perfect, and she gaze
4 4 upon a scene OF summer peace; but Bess
Z was too heavy OF heart and too disturbed
e mind to heed the delightful SQUADS al
Il sights about her.
Walter, changed and saddened, and /